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roots

Bullhorn

Brass band from Brisbane, Australia formed in 2011. One drummer, seven horn players (sax, trumpet, french horn, flugal horn, trombone, flute and sousaphone). They call themselves a nu-wave brass band incorporating elements of roots, funk, hip hop and a bit of reggae.

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Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

Blind from birth, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is from the Gumatj nation and his mother is from the Galpu nation, both from North East Arnhemland. A former member of Yothu Yindi, now with his own Saltwater Band, whose members are all from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island. Gurrumul's beautiful voice sings the songs of his Gumatj country.

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Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff OM (born James Chambers, 1 April 1948, St Catherine, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known among mainstream audiences for songs like "Sittin' in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and "Many Rivers to Cross" from The Harder They Come, a film soundtrack which helped popularise reggae across the world. Cliff moved to Kingston in 1962. After he released two singles that failed to make much of an impression...

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Ash Grunwald

Ash Grunwald is an Australian blues musician.

While it’s true that his music is steeped in the Delta blues tradition of the legendary acoustic musicians who proliferated in pre-World War II America’s deep South and the giants of electric blues who shaped rock and roll, it’s the young Victorian’s willingness to combine these influences with grooves and sounds common in contemporary music that sets him apart.

A soulful singer and guitar player, Grunwald immediately drew attention with the release of 2002’s ‘Introducing … Ash Grunwald’ a collection of originals and blues standards that included ‘Smokestack Lightnin’ (Howlin’ Wolf) ‘The Sky Is Crying’ (Elmore James), and ‘Rolling and Tumbling’ (Robert Johnson) recorded live with only acoustic guitar and foot percussion consisting of a stomp box and tambourine.

The positive response to Grunwald’s debut resulted in two Victorian Blues awards for Emerging Talent and Album of the Year.

The following year he scored two Australian Blues awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Best New Talent in addition to the MBAS’ Blues Performer of the Year. He also reached the final of the International Blues Performer of the Year in Memphis.

In 2004 Grunwald released his follow up album, I Don’t Believe, once again recorded solo and live.

Since his initial release he’d been made aware of two Tom Waits albums, Swordfishtrombones and Bone Machine. In a daring move he emulated Waits’ experimental bang and clang percussion using hammers, spanners, pots, etc, in addition to a boss loop station as a bed for his lap steel, dobro, and acoustic guitars.

The album included six originals, two of Waits’ compositions, "Going out West" and "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (a-cappella with handclaps) and blues standards "Walking Blues" and "Cross Roads" (Robert Johnson), "Empire State" (Son House), and "How Many More Years" (Howlin’ Wolf).

On the strength of this release Ash won an ARIA award nomination for Best Blues And Roots Album, and the Victorian Blues award for Male Vocalist Of The Year (equal with Lloyd Spiegel) and in 2005 the MBAS Vic / Tas award for Solo / Duo Of The Year (equal with Dave Hogan).

For the ‘Live At The Corner’ album (songs from his first two releases plus Willie Dixon’s ‘Spoonful’ featuring Ian Collard on harmonica) Ash won the 2005 MBAS Vic / Tas and Australian Blues award’s Album Of The Year in addition to being nominated once again for the Best Blues And Roots album at the ARIA’s.

Ash has built a substantial following performing at countless live venues around the country and at major festivals including Byron Bay, Port Fairy, Falls, Apollo Bay, Fremantle, Cockatoo Island and Margaret River.

In May 2005, Ash was invited to take over the reins as host of Triple J’s popular Thursday night show Roots ‘N All.

Ash Grunwald continues to forge his own identity with the release of twelve original songs on album number four, ‘Give Signs’ recorded on his own label Delta Groove Records. As usual it will be live and solo. And as usual, it is another terrific offering from this talented performer.
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Papa Chango

For the Ecuadorian reggae group see <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Pap%C3%A1+Chang%C3%B3" class="bbcode_artist">Pap&aacute; Chang&oacute;</a> Whether you’re lulled into a trance by the dark, visceral melodies or energized by the afro-inspired rhythms you will be moved, one way or another, by Papa Chango. With a line-up comprising horns, percussion, guitars and the mighty Farfisa organ, the Melbourne based 9-piece bring a modern flavour to the sounds of the 1970’s Ethio-jazz and afro-funk movements. Debut album "The Matador" released 2012.

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BonJah

Hailing from Tauranga, New Zealand, this four piece folk, funk, roots band has spent the last 20 months playing shows around Australia. After playing over 380 shows since their arrival in May 2006 they have cemented their place as one of Australia’s hardest working groups. BONJAH have followed their acoustic roots and share a deep genuine love for playing music. Having already gathered a legion of fans in Melbourne and around Australia by playing and touring relentlessly, their reputation as an amazing live act is fast continuing to grow.

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The Audreys

The Audreys are an Australian five-piece blues/roots band who formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2004. Their debut album, Between Last Night and Us saw them collect the 2006 ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album. Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Taasha Coates says it took her and fellow songwriter/guitarist Tristan Goodall an age to get back to writing: “We were just a little Adelaide band that made an album, then suddenly we were touring constantly and playing on bigger and bigger stages.

Jess Harlen

Now arrives Jess Harlen, a taste of soul, urban roots, lyrical stylings and poetic incision. This songstress hails from the rolling hills and coastlines of New Zealand and is of Ngati Porou and Nga Puhi decent. Moving to Australia with her family at a young age, Jess spent her school years growing up in Brisbane where she began singing and was taught to play the guitar by her family. Throughout her musical upbringing, influences include blues artists such as John Lee Hooker and Nina Simone, Motown greats such as Otis Redding and Gladys Knight...

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Groundation

Groundation is a Fusion-Reggae band based in Sonoma County, California. It was established in 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Ryan Newman and Marcus Urani upon their meeting at the Jazz program at Sonoma State University. Groundation's music incorporates the lyrical struggle of Roots Reggae, the progressive musicianship of Funk/Jazz fusion, and other-worldly transcendental Dub. The 9-piece band creates an altogether new Reggae sound, featuring swirling horns, stout poly-rhythmics, and soulful harmony vocals.

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